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Category: Elementary School Action

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Title: Information Item

Date:                  October 3, 2025

To:                        Grade 6 Administrators

From:                 Dr. Candace Penrod, District Science Supervisor

Subject:        Amplify Science 6 Support & Implementation

Summary:

Amplify Science materials to support the Grade 6 Utah Science with Engineering Education (SEEd) Standards have been shipped to all schools. We are excited to begin our supported launch and implementation. To support all 6th grade teachers, whether at an elementary or a middle school, we offer the follow guidance: 

  1. The District Science Pacing Guide for Sixth Grade science will support a systemic implementation of the new Amplify Science materials to support the SEEd Standards.
  2. A District Science Coach can visit your site and assist your teachers in getting started with the on-line and physical materials.  Contact Candace Penrod if you and your teachers would benefit from a site visit.
  3. We will be offering Sixth Grade Amplify Science Zoom Support meetings on Friday October 3 from 2:30-3:00 PM and Tuesday October 21 from 3:00-3:30 PM.
  4. Training sessions for each upcoming Strand will be offered so that teachers can meet with an Amplify trainer and prepare for upcoming units. We are working out the specific dates, but do have a general timeframe for each training: 
  5. Strand 6.2/Thermal Energy Unit-November TBD
  6. Strand 6.3/Ocean, Atmosphere, and Climate Unit-January TBD
  7. Strand 6.4/Populations and Ecosystems Unit-March TBD

Note: These sessions will be offered during the school day.  We are grateful for your support, as we know the first year of any implementation is critical to the success of the implementation.

Rationale: 

 It is VERY IMPORTANT that your sixth-grade teachers follow the District Pacing Guide, as we will be offering support based on the pacing guide. It is the expectation moving forward that with the adoption and use of district materials, classroom instruction will be aligned by Strand (topic/unit) across the district according to the District Science Pacing Guide. We seek to build a more cohesive system of science education to support all learners and District Priorities and curricular goals. Thus, we are requiring teachers to teach from the Strand indicated on the pacing guide for the articulated timeframe and do realize that this may be an adjustment for some teachers.

Expectations for Implementation: 

  1. Communication
  • Sixth Grade teachers have also received this information in an email. Principals are responsible for ensuring that sixth grade teachers are aware of the support offered and the importance of adhering to the District Science Pacing Guide for 6th grade science.  
  1. Collaboration: 
  1. Evaluation
  • Number of students using Amplify Materials; RISE scores; PLC data

Keywords: science, sixth grade, pacing guide, Amplify Science, SEEd standards

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Summary: On Tuesday, June 3, 2025, the SLCSD approved the purchase of Amplify Science for all 6-8 science classrooms in SLCSD. Principals will receive more information regarding ordering materials for teachers. Amplify Science materials are comprehensive and align with the Utah Science with Engineering Education Standards. Amplify Science materials include:

  1. Classroom Kits- hands on and printed classroom display materials
  2. Print Materials- student investigation notebooks with article companions and print teacher guides
  3. Digital Tools- digital teacher’s guide; digital student experience; videos; simulations; and engineering internships
  4. Assessments- pre/end-of unit assessments; critical juncture assessments; on the fly assessments; benchmark assessments.

Middle school principals will be ordering materials for each science educator in the building. Elementary principals will also be able to order materials for each sixth-grade teacher or for a teacher who teaches all sixth-grade science in the building. More information about ordering is forthcoming. Please contact Candace Penrod if you have any questions.

Keywords: science materials; 6-8 grade; Amplify Science

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Summary:

For the past four years, we have leveraged ESSER funding to support K-5 science materials in every K-5 classroom. This included a Mystery Science digital license for every K-5 teacher, as well as Mystery Packs with hands-on materials.

This year, our funding stream has changed, which has necessitated changes in what the district can provide. We are excited to announce that the district WILL be purchasing a Mystery Science digital for every K-5 teacher during the 2025-2026 school year. We regret that we cannot fund the purchase of additional Mystery Science Packs for the 2025-2026 school year.

We offer the following guidance for addressing hands-on science materials that support the Mystery Science digital lessons:

  1. Some teachers will have leftover materials from the previous years that can be used for the 2025-2026 school year.
  2. If funding permits, schools can purchase needed consumable materials to replenish Mystery Packs for teachers.  Please consult the K-5 materials lists to know what to order.
  3. If funding permits, schools may purchase Mystery Packs for teachers.

Please note, the science department has a limited supply of materials for new teachers that will be available in August. Please contact Candace Penrod on August 1, 2025, regarding possible materials for a new teacher (not guaranteed, as we are limited to only the items we have in stock).

Expectations for Implementation:

  1. Principals are responsible for reviewing the information and making decisions on how to handle hands-on science materials for the 2025-2026 school year.
  2. Principals are responsible for sharing the information with impacted staff in a clear and timely fashion.

     
  3. Collaboration:
    1. Contact Candace Penrod with any questions or concerns.
  4. Evaluation:
    1. The district will be conducting a formal adoption for elementary science materials during the 2025-2026 school year for the 2026-2027 school year.

Conclusion:

Thank you for your support in elementary science. Please reach out to Candace Penrod if you have any questions.

Keywords:  elementary materials; K-5; science materials; science kits; Mystery Science

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This project equips participants—such as administrators, instructional coaches, teachers, and librarians—with the skills to effectively engage families and communities in early literacy efforts. After attending an Information Session and registering, participants will champion school-wide family engagement initiatives.

Schools can register to attend a live 30-minute Information Sessions with the QR code below. Once you register the team will be in touch within one week to schedule your Orientation.

Please reach out to Kelly Noorda (kelly.noorda@promisepartnership.org) or Susie Estrada (Susie.Estrada@schools.utah.gov) with any questions.

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Hello Administrators,

It is time to order Eureka Math materials for the 2025-26 school year. Just like last year, the district will pay 50% of the cost for K, 1st and 2nd grade student consumable materials. Licenses for Eureka inSync, which includes Equip, are $5.25. Information about ordering inSync licenses will be coming in a later email.

 K-5 English and Spanish student materials are organized in three types of workbooks.

  1. The Learn workbooks contain Application Problems, Problem Sets, Templates, and Exit Tickets.
  2. The Practice workbooks contain Sprints and Fluencies.
  3. The Succeed workbooks contains Additional Problems for Homework and printed Homework Helpers.
  4. Schools can purchase just the Learn and Practice books together or the Learn, Practice and Succeed books together.
  5.  

6th grade English and Spanish materials follow the Learn, Practice, Succeed organization but are compiled in a single workbook for each of the 6th grade modules. 

Follow the instructions below to complete the attached Eureka Math Buy Guides 2025-2026.  Email completed Buying Guides to Morgan Crossley by Monday April 28, 2025. Morgan will place your order. Your math coach is ready to help gather the ordering information to make this a quick process.

Instructions For Completing Eureka Math Buy Guides

  1. Open and save the attached Eureka Math Buy Guide Excel workbook. Make sure to save the Buying Guide with your school name in the title.
  2. There are 5 tabs for school use in the workbook. 4 tabs are for student materials. These are grouped K-2 English, K-2 Spanish, 3-6 English and 3-6 Spanish. The 5th tab is for Teacher Editions. It is unlikely you need to buy additional TEs but a tab is included for your convenience.
  3. K-5 Student Workbooks can be purchased in two ways: Learn and Practice or Learn, Practice, and Succeed (which contains the additional problems for homework and printed homework helpers). Type in the quantity needed for your incoming students and the price will calculate automatically.
  4. 6th grade Student Workbooks are only available organized in a Learn, Practice, Succeed workbook for each module in the year. Type in the quantity needed for your incoming students and the price will calculate automatically.
  5. A Eureka Math Homework Helpersdigital license is free for every student with a Student Workbook purchase and for the classroom teachers. Add the number of grade level students and the number of grade level teachers (include your general education, resource, behavior support, academic support, diagnostic K, diagnostic 1st grade teachers, and Dual Language teachers at the appropriate grade level) and enter it in the quantity box.
  6. The Eureka Digital Suite for Teachers is a free, 12-month, online subscription. Order one for every teacher (include your general education, Pre-K, resource, behavior support, academic support, diagnostic K, diagnostic 1st grade teachers, and Dual Language teachers at the appropriate grade level) and every administrator in your building. The order line for the Digital Suite is on the Student K-2 English page and the Student 3-6 English page. Teachers and administrators should only be counted once and not on both pages.
  7. Provide the school’s budget account number to be charged 50% of your order for K- 2nd grade student consumables and the school’s budget account number to pay the full amount of 3rd - 6th grade student consumables and Teacher Editions.
  8. Click in the School Information Entry Field box to activate the drop-down arrow. Use the drop down to select your school’s information.
  9. Repeat this process for the other pages in the workbook, as necessary.

Email the completed Eureka Math Buying Guides to morgan.crossley@slcschools.org  by 5:00 p.m. Monday April 28, 2025. Morgan can also be reached at 801-578-8256 to answer ordering questions. We really appreciate early orders and will process them as soon as they are received.  Ther Eureka Math Guide can be found here.

Please let me know if you have questions.

Thank you!

Holley McIntosh

Holley McIntosh, M.Ed. (she/her/hers)

Administrator-Mathematics Supervisor

Salt Lake City School District 

MESA Supervisor, MathCounts Supervisor

Office: (801) 578-8295

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What: The Utah Code Annotated 53G-9-606 requires the state board to create a model policy on bullying, cyber-bullying, hazing, abusive conduct, and retaliation. Due to legislative and rule changes (H.B. 84 (2024) and R277-613) the current model policy requires updating. We are asking for volunteers to participate in a workgroup to provide feedback on the updated model policy. We are looking for a sample of 10 members throughout the state of Utah to represent LEAs. You can volunteer using this form. Volunteers will be notified whether or not they are selected to join this workgroup.

Who: Ideal candidates include superintendents, charter school directors, building administrators, and policy analysts.

When: Starting in January 2025

  • 2-3 virtual meetings (90 minutes each)
  • Exact dates will be determined based on participant availability

      

Action: Please complete the Model Policy Workgroup Volunteer Form if you would like to volunteer.

Information: For more information, please contact Becca Rae. 

Thank you, 

Ryan Bartlett, Ph.D.

Director of Strategic Communications

Utah State Board of Education

ryan.bartlett@schools.utah.gov

605.201.7950

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